Galway-based businessman Declan Ganley has said he intends to “press on” with his challenge to the restrictions on public worship, despite the return to public Mass on May 10. Mr Ganley’s case was postponed again at its last hearing until May 18. “The bans that were put in place were in our view unconstitutional and…
The backlash to the bishops’ sexual education programme was eminently predictable, writes Ruadhán Jones Back in 2015, shortly before the passing of the Marriage Referendum which legalised gay marriage in Ireland, then Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan promised school curriculum would not be changed in the event of the Constitutional redefinition of marriage. She said: “Currently…
The generation of human-animal embryos exists in a “legislative vacuum”, a TD has discovered on the back of a parliamentary question concerning the procedure. This comes as a team of American and Chinese scientists recently created a human-monkey embryo by injecting human stem cells into monkey blastocytes, some of which were kept alive for up…
The View As churches begin to re-open, we are full of anxious questions. Will people come back? Will we have to close again? How are we going to live in a post-pandemic world, which has changed utterly? Everything that is revealed was always there but is only now fully visible” The greatest danger is that…
Westminster’s approval of regulations giving the North’s Secretary of State Brandon Lewis power to direct the commissioning of abortion has been dubbed “outrageous” and should be “challenged”. Precious Life said it should not be up to pro-life groups to defend devolution after the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 were approved by MPs in Westminster in a 431-89…
The landscape remains grim for those hoping to tie the knot with what remains of 2021, writes Jason Osborne Come Monday, 50 guests will be allowed to attend weddings, but indoor receptions will remain capped at six guests while 15 will be permitted for outdoor celebrations. It’s been alluded to that numbers for receptions will…
Pope Francis confirmed that the French hermit and martyr will be canonised, sparking joy among his followers, who see him as a “prophet of communion” for the modern world. Fr Niall Ahern, who is responsible for the Jesus Caritas fraternity in Ireland, said the community are “overjoyed” at the announcement, which came Monday May 3.…
There is a real danger the Blessed Sacrament will be treated as if it were a magical instrument rather than the sacramental sign it is, writes Fr Fergus Ryan OP The Covid-19 pandemic has been a huge challenge for everyone. It has equally been an opportunity to develop new skills, especially in IT and online communications.…
The pause caused by coronavirus restrictions might be a moment to look again at how we celebrate important rites of passage in the Faith, writes Chai Brady The Government advice that Confirmation and First Holy Communion ceremonies should not be part of the plans when parishes re-open for public worship of May 10 creates quite…
Crisis pregnancy organisation Gianna Care has reported an increase in clients looking for post-abortion care, with some describing the experience as “very, very traumatic”. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Gianna Care director Carolyn O’Meara said that they recently received 10 contacts in one week from clients who found the experience more difficult than “they expected…
Ruadhán Jones
Breda O'Brien
Chai Brady